PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5502, 20 June 1917, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

JUNE MEETINC There were present, at Monday’s 1 moeting, Ore J. B. Thomas (chairman), J. Bell, A. Orr, F. Walters,-* J, Brady, F. Hughes, C. Smith. ALEXANDRA 'ROAD Mr Mathers, Mauawaru, waited on the council and asked it to clean out the drain in Alexandra road, as it wai ovei flowing on to his land and the road. In connection with this it was ' explained that the lower part had been taken over by the Hungahunga Drainage Baard. Councillors thought it was a matter for tho Draiuage Board, and a motion was carried that the council write to the board asking them to take the drain over, and suggesting that the settlers affected present a petition to the Board asking it to tafe over the drain. DRAINS. P. Selby, Ngarua, offered to contribute 28 fid per chaiu towards the cost of a drain to relieve his frontage of flood water.— Referred to Or. Hughes aud the supervisor to attend to. WAIORONGOMAI TRAM. Tho Mines Department offered the Council a subsidy of £ for £ up to to £37 10s for a new rope foi this tramway.—Held over. WORKS AFPROVED The Public Works Department wrote that the contract for claying . 54 chains of Motumaoho station roadsujv was approved. ' The supervisor had also received word that Campbell’s road had been sanctioned. It was decided to call for tenders for both works when the riding members consider proper. WILLOWS Te Aroha Borough Council complained that the willow trees by the Te Aroha bridge approaches were interfering with the road and were being topped on the up stream side and destroyed on the down stream side.

ALIEN LABOR The Te Aroha Borough Council asked the Council’s support to a resolution, that the Government be urged to conscript all enemy aliens into labor battalions, such to be employed on road and drainage works at the same rate of pay as received by soldiers in the New Zealand forces, and that the Servian Government be asked to send out officers to form Jugoslavs battalions for active service at the Balkan fronts. Or Walters suggested prohibiting single aliens carrying on gum digging. The chairman thought if there was any way iu which they could be used at the front, aliens should be sent and a motion to this effect was carried. The chairman did not think conscription of labor would be a success. A further motion was carried asking if the Government considered it would be possible to prohibit gum digging duriug the period of the war, so as to release the labor employed for more essential occupations.

heumesville siding The oouuoil declined to make a grant of £l2 10s to the cost of improving. the road to the Herriesville 'station, as requested by the Railway Department at the last meeting. no. 7 ROAD The Waitoa Drainage Board a&ked if the Council would contribute a quarter of the cost of a set of pipes for No. 7 road, the Thames Valley company having objected to the removal of tho No. 7 road bridge.— Agreed to. DIAGONAL ROAD

Thirty-five settlers of the Kereone soldiers' association and Ngarua district petitioned for the continuance of the Diagonal rord from the WaitoaMatamata road across the Waitoa river to where the said road joins the Walton aud Morrinsville road, thus giving a direct outlet to the Morrinsville township and saleyards. The supervisor said it would a three span bridge, ments would, bv-ueedrd. The bridge wquid-eOst fully £SOO. Tho chairman said at the present time it was very difficult to get grants, and unless it was going to be productive he would be very reluctant to ask for the grant. Cr Smith pointed out that if it was access to the Ngarua cheese factory that was in mind there was sufficient land and settlers to warrant the establishment of a cheese factoryHe moved that while the council isin sympathy wfth the movement itconsiders the present an inopportune time to press for a loan. Cr Hughes seconded the motion which was carried.

MOTOR REGISTARTION The Timaru Borough Council asked the support of the Council to the amendment of the law making it compulsory for all motor cars and motor cycles, aud that front and rear identification marks be made compulsory. A fee- of 5s was to be paid by each driver.—Consideration deferred. SEDDON ItOAD A copy of the warrant presenting the plan of the road through Waihekau No. 4 A block (Seddon Hoad) was forwarded by the Public Works department for registration. A PROTEST Gk Murpk protested against the Council stopping £l4 off his contract.—Referred to supervisor. Thompson’s track The Public Works Department f.sked if the Council was agreeable to £25 authority issued in January being expended on track. The Council agreed to this which now makes the sum available £275.